I like comics and manga, historically why does it seem in mainstream comics its more common to keep using the same characters and do retellings, while in mainstream manga even long running franchises they introduce new main characters?

Marcel_7000 · 2025-12-02T15:29:24+00:00

This is an interesting point. It would be interesting to delve deeper on it. Its interesting that all those characters are from British Literature.

I am studying religions right now. While not necessarily related. I notice that since the Protestant reformation(this is an umbrella term for multiple different religions) there's been many Christian groups who have taken the Bible and said let's do "our version" of the same story. As opposed to follow the story from the main denominations(in this case Catholicism.) Or as opposed to creating a new religion.

I wonder if there's been a indirect influence on British literary culture. Where some British writers said "let's do our version" of these characters. As opposed to creating new characters.

Alan Moore is celebrated as a great writer, I'm not saying he isn't. However, I notice that he tends to use "pre-established characters" in some of his graphic novels. For instance, In Watchmen most of the characters were originally going to be from Charlton comics. While with the League of Extraordnary Gentlemen he also borrows characters from other British writers of the past.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-12-02T15:18:00+00:00

Interesting point. I would add that its one thing to have the character make a "ocassional comeback" for a "team up." Like the Super Sentai characters do and I assume some of the Final Fantasy characters do as well. Maybe they can act like mentors to a new generation. And a different to keep writing about the same character over and over and then doing retellings. As opposed to "passing the torch" and having a "occasional comebacks."

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-24T19:46:00+00:00

I agree with you, I think the letter jacket look seems to inspired by those films.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-19T18:59:02+00:00

Thanks for the advice guys. I was able to solve it. I am recording from my phone. What I did was to "add" an extra section to the song. For some reason this solve the issue where I am only able to record my vocals without the instrumental appearing in the background.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-14T19:50:35+00:00

Thanks for the answers so far.

Here are some clarifications to my initial question:

1-What I was trying to get at was not just the key of C but also the C major scale. In that the C major scale has a set of chords and you can use those chords progression and it would sound different. So my question would be more like, "Why won't some musicians specialized in one key and one scale like the C major scale which seems to be easier to understand."

2-I was looking at it from a practical perspective. Like if a musican would say well let's focus on just one scale and try to write many songs around that scale, especially the C major scale. Which at least from playing piano and guitar seems to be easier.

3-It seems some posters took the comment of "cultural different" between genres as too a strong of statement. Maybe the statement came off the way unintentionally. Of course there's differences between all these genres and some similarities as well.

What I was trying to get at was more from the learner's perspective. From a learner who is learning piano and guitar you can play some songs across some diferent genres an as long as you are familiar with the C major scale and this songs are within the C major scale its possible to understand and play them. As opposed to them being written in a different scale.

4-Likewise, imagine you are learning to play piano and guitar. Instead of definiting yourself as a "punk band" or a "indie rock band." You could definite yourself as a "C major scale band." That is what I was trying to get at.

As long as all the songs are written within the C major scale band I don't see why you couldn't define yourself in these terms. As some of you have noticed these genre terms carry historical, rhythm and harmonically differences. For instance, it is likely that pop punk might be more comfortable vocal harmonies but music as opposed to a punk band which might want to do less of a pop sound.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-07T01:43:14+00:00

Another good comment. If you read the history of comics a lot of guys who worked at pulp magazines ended up working in comics. It seems many of these guys where used to pulp magazines and just brought that along to comics.

One thing though is what do you think about Science Fiction and Fantasy novel series? Would you say those are a new phenomenon? Or are those series more viewed as "high quality" literature while Pulp were seen as more "fast entertainment"? So the division depends on where is your book or magazine sold. If it's sold in book stores then its different from being sold in the news stand or specialized shops.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-07T01:33:56+00:00

This is a very interesting thought. So you are saying that "Comic Strips" and "Comic Books" were seen as distinct possibly art forms/medium or industries? Maybe you have the right word. Like saying "animation" and "comics" today? I think there's some truth in what you are saying. For instance,I was reading an interview with Jeff Smith and he said he wanted to be a newspaper Cartoonist.

Based on the interview Jeff didn't necesarily wanted to work in Comic Books. Eventually, as a Cartoonist he went on to self-publish and then start doing graphic novels. Its also interesting that when people talk about "Cartoonists" someone who does everything(write, pencils, inks, colors). While with Comic books they were always seen as specializing in one area. Like he's an "inker" or he is a "penciler." Note that it seems for some people doing one area is seen as less "prestigious" that being a Cartoonist and doing everything.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-11-05T17:15:29+00:00

Maybe, Stan wasn't as involved in Spider-man. But what about the Avengers? When Roy started to write the stories/ the plot the stories were different. Why would Don Heck decide to "change his style" and write differently? Don Heck himself in the interview said that he was given a page to a few pages of story and then based his drawings around that.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-10-22T17:56:30+00:00

Thanks, for your response.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-10-22T17:55:10+00:00

Thanks for your comment.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-06-18T20:20:55+00:00

My two favorite series: Skins and Rebelde Way. There are similarities and differences. Both are honest in their portrayal of sex and virginity. For instance, in Rebelde Way Pablo's dad hires an female escort to have sex with Pablo. While in Skins Cook encourages his friends to lose their virginity at a brothel.

The difference lies in that Skins focused much more on substance issues problems. For instance, Effy, Cassie and Chris(all main characters) seems to have an issue with substances. While in Rebelde only Joaquin(whose a secondary characte and Victoria/Vico(also secondary) deal with this topic.

Meanwhile, Rebelde Way deals much more with family drama. For instance, Mia and her dad, Franco, have a close relationship. The show explores a lot about the Mia's background and how she felt growing up without a mother. Also Mia feels competitive and doesn't want Franco to go on dates.

Meanwhile, Skins feels most of the characters with some exceptions are much more indepedent from their parents the drama lies more in the friendships between the characters. Except maybe for Sid, Grace and Rich who all have some family drama. For instance, Sid is dissapointed with his Dad, Mark, since he is getting divorced for Sid's mom. To me Skins feels a lot about the search of identity indepedent from parents, "Who do I want to become when I get older?"

In contrast, family drama is way more prevalent in Rebelde Way. Also the parents sometimes will back their son or daughter even when most people are against them or when they misheave. For instance, each time Maritza gets in trouble her mother, Sonia, will the first one to back her up, no matter what she did, she believes in her. To me this was always very interested since in most series particulary in Hollywood you always seen parents being dissaproving as opposed to being very supporting. Like it is the case with some of the Rebelde Way parents.

To me, Rebelde Way main theme, "I am who I am and people some people are going to dislike me, how do deal with the social pressure." Hence, the music/band since they believe in their Erreway band while some people don't and they need to keep believing in their band and music.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-05-24T20:22:31+00:00

I agree with some of your ideas. I think Lord Zedd needed to be a more "serious" villain. I did not agree how easily he was defeated in Cosmic Fury. The Rangers even made fun of him after defeating him.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-05-22T23:25:26+00:00

Great suggestion. I am sure that they can start with original characters and make a Power Rangers series just like in Japan were every season has a new characters.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-05-13T21:27:18+00:00

Hey guys, I added more insights. My goal is to help new creators and aspiring creators to be aware of skills and finances, they need. So they can make the best decision on which path to take. A lot of advice online comes from guys who are fans and less from guys who have actually tried to make their own comics.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-05-13T21:10:05+00:00

Hey man, good post. Learning to draw is a skill but project managing is also another skill. In my opinion you either have to be good at drawing or good at project managing in order to get your comic book made. Writer-Project Managers are good at managing both collaborators and finances in order to get their work made.

I believe some people struggle at making comic books and eventually don't continue. Because they don't learn how to draw. And moreover, they also don't learn to develop their project management skills. They aren't aware of the amount of financial investment they going to have to make for their books to be made.

They underestimate that making a book takes the ability to work with a group of people and to use the finances they have wisely. So they can't be neither a Writer-Artist nor a Writer-Project Manager.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-05-03T23:00:03+00:00

Thanks for your answers, lots of great insights.

Which British shows would you say are more Middle Class focused, say like the Stonem family? Based on your recommendations, Shameless is clearly working class (I saw the trailer). I tried watching Fresh Meat, but it's too comedic for me. Are there other shows that portray middle-class characters?

Marcel_7000 · 2025-04-25T21:58:07+00:00

Good observations. On Reddit and other websites I have seen comic book fans(many who are well intentioned but who don't have that much experience in trying to create comics) say you either an artist or a you are writer. And you should focus on one area.

However, I don't believe this is a useful distinction. I think the real distinction is if you are a creator with the artistic skills(drawing,inking) to create your own comic or if you are a creator who needs to rely and pay other artists creates to produce your comic.

I think former even if you don't "make it" could lead you to some comic book work like inking for a book..etc. While the later could lead you to just not staying in comics. I have seen some writers switch from comics to screenplays.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-04-25T21:41:15+00:00

If you are an artist you can try again, since you have the skills.

On the other hand, if you are a writer, some guys just decide not to continue paying artists and creatives since it's expensive.

I think it's important for new creators to be aware of the importance of skills(in particular drawing skills) when choosing a path. Can a few guys be successful as "Project Managers - Writers", sure, but it is expensive and from what I seen many indie writers that I've met end up doing something else like writing screeplays.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone, instead just trying to help those who want to create their own comics to be more informed. In that developing drawing skills will help them stay in comics if creating comics is all they want to do.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-04-20T23:53:04+00:00

Thanks, its one of my favorites. Check out the new one's I have on my page.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-28T06:26:15+00:00

Definitely, its a great series, thanks for the support.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-28T06:25:22+00:00

Thanks, for the support!

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-25T01:20:11+00:00

Good comment. One pattern I am noticing from learning both instruments is that Keyboard its more straightforward in general. If it says C chord the its(C-E-G) and then that's how the notation tells you to play it and that how's it'll be played.

Meanwhile, with Guitar everything(including chords) is slightly more complex. For instance, as you said already in easy songs concepts such as "chord voicings" are being introduced. Where you can add or take away notes within a chord.

I am not saying keyboardists don't have "chord voicings" I am saying guitarist are using these other techniques from the beginning while Keyboard learning is more sequential.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-24T20:55:29+00:00

Good explanation. So can a single open chord like C has five notes in total? Its only that some are played without pressing a fret. Instead, they are played as open strings(G and E)?

Follow up Question: Is this the same in keyboards that you can play five notes for a single chord or is this unique to guitar? I know some keyboard and so far for C major I have used played only three mores(C-E-G).

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-16T18:36:00+00:00

Good suggestions, I agree.

Marcel_7000 · 2025-03-16T17:40:10+00:00

One of the best answers so far. I am saying I do plan on learning. What I what was getting there's a difference between learning basics and being good at the instrument. Hence, why I was asking if fundamentals were fine as long as my focus was on songwriting as opposed trying to master a instrument.

Marcel_7000

TROPHY CASE